16 June 2012 Surrey Hills Inspire Short Walk:


This page shows details of the 16 June 2012 free public taster walk in the Surrey Hills starting form Box Hill & West Humble station. Other walks are listed here.

16 June 2012, Saturday. Surrey Hills Walk. Start/finish: Box Hill and West Humble station (TQ167518) 10.30am  Up to 10 miles, but with shorter option, hilly. Viewpoints to the Olympic Road Cycle Race route across Box Hill and linking to two of the sites near Ranmore associated with the Founders of the LDWA. Picnic lunch option, byo. Leaders: John and Gail Elrick, tel: 020 8979 7512.

Walk description:  This walk links two themes of the full LDWA Games 100 route as it joins the Olympic Park in East London to Windsor. This taster shorter walk takes in some of the Surrey Hills section of the 100-mile route. The walk's themes are to link 2012 London Games venues and to visit sites in the Surrey Hills associated with the LDWA's Founders, in this the LDWA's 40th Anniversary Year. The London 2012 Olympic Games Road Cycle Races for both men and women will visit the Surrey Hills to include circuits of the Box Hill Zig Zag Road, with the men doing nine and the women two circuits around Box Hill, as the hilliest part of the full race route from London. This short taster walk will provide views of the Cycle Race route on Box Hill and will visit two sites marking the founding of the LDWA, each named after one of the two LDWA Founders since deceased, Alan Blatchford and Chris Steer. The Founders' sites are at Tanners Hatch Youth Hostel with a memorial seat to Alan Blatchford, and at Steer's Field on Ranmore Common, a section of downland slopes is named in dedication to Chris Steer. The third Founder, Barbara Blatchford, is now a Vice President of the LDWA. The route will be a figure-of-eight with sections, each heading from the station to the Ranmore Common area (west) and Box Hill area (east). This provides the option to do only one of the two loops makiing a much shorter walk. This is a hilly walk with significant ascents and descents on each leg and there are exposed open areas as well as wooded sections. Paths are likely to be muddy, after recent rains, and suitable footwear and wet-weather gear is needed. It is planned to do the Box Hill loop first.

London 2012 Games sites/Olympic links: The London 2012 Games Olympic Road Cycle Races will include sections in the Surrey Hills, with demanding switchback circuits including the Box Hill Zig Zags.

Promoted walking routes used (LDPs): The North Downs Way National Trail is used for part of the walk route on both Box Hill and Ranmore Common and in linking these across the Mole Gap where the station is situated in the valley of the River Mole. The Thames Down Link and Mole Gap Trail also cross this area.

Distance and elevation: Up to 10 miles if completing both loops of the figure-of eight, some steep and muddy ascents and descents, and exposed hillsides if the weather is wet or windy.

Duration (approximate): about 5-7 hours based on 2mph plus stops and commentary.

Assembly area: Meet at Box Hill & West Humble station (TQ167518). Limited parking at station - normally 20 spaces. The car park at Boxhill station is currently even more limited than usual, being used by railway staff for parking/equipment and Portaloos that will be there at the weekend also! Free public parking, with toilets, at Burford Bridge (TQ171520) near the Hotel and Rykas Cafe, about 900m from the station. Parking also free at the Stepping Stones Car Park (at TQ171513), about 1200m from the station, sited south along the east side of the A24 (no entry from the north-bound A24). When crossing the A24, use the pedestrian subway (TQ171517) south of the roundabout.  

Facilities: Limited facilities: Toilets at the National Trust Visitor Centre on Box Hill (also with cafe) and at Burford Bridge (also with cafe). Cafe/indoor stop for refreshments or carry your own picnic lunch.

Public transport: Trains to Box Hill & West Humble from London or from Dorking. From London Victoria the 09.31 from platform 11 arrives at 10.21 at Box Hill & West Humble. Trains are hourly. From Dorking (main station) the 10.05 arrives at 10.21.


Route Gallery:


Page version information: Updated 14 June for Box Hill station parking and walk order of loops.